This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
On July 11, 2020, the National Gun Owners Association (NGAO) called for the formulation of a policy to regulate the number of guns licensed firearm holders can have in Kenya.
NGAO Chairperson Anthony Wahome emphasized that the current Firearm Act does not specify the number of guns an individual can own, leaving it to the Firearm Licensing Board to set a threshold.
Wahome cited the example of the United States, where thousands of lives are lost annually due to gun violence, and argued that a policy framework would ensure the number of guns is regulated to prevent a similar crisis in Kenya.
A 2017 survey revealed that 40% of Americans either own a gun or live in a household where there is one, and the country has seen over 11,000 fatalities due to murder or manslaughter involving a firearm in a single year.
Wahome also emphasized the need for a law that explicitly provides circumstances when a licensed firearm holder is allowed to use a gun, as it is currently left to the police or the court to interpret.
He noted that while licensed firearm holders have participated actively during terror attacks, some rogue gun holders have misused their firearms, highlighting the need for clear guidelines.
